The Dallas Stars have made a significant move by signing veteran goaltender Magnus Hellberg to a three-year, two-way contract, as announced by the team.
Standing tall at 6-foot-6 and weighing 209 pounds, Hellberg’s impressive size made him a highly regarded prospect, leading to his selection by the Nashville Predators in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft. Now 33 years old, Hellberg has established himself as a seasoned journeyman, having played for six NHL teams, five AHL teams, and six professional teams across China, Russia, and Sweden.
Hellberg’s first tenure in North America, spanning from 2012 to 2017, saw him split his time between the Predators and New York Rangers organizations. Afterward, he ventured overseas to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for five years, where he played for Kunlun Red Star, SKA St. Petersburg, and HK Sochi. During his KHL stint, Hellberg posted a remarkable 2.00 GAA, .927 SV%, 24 shutouts, and an 81-64-14 record, earning two KHL All-Star selections.
Hellberg returned to the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings at the end of the 2021-22 season, recording a win in his lone appearance. Following that, he signed with the Seattle Kraken as a free agent, kicking off a turbulent 2022-23 campaign. After being claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators, Hellberg played one game, recording a .935 SV% in a victory. However, he was soon re-claimed by the Kraken, where he served as a backup but did not play in any games. He eventually returned to Detroit, where he struggled with a 4-8-1 record, .885 SV%, and 3.29 GAA in 17 appearances.
In 2023, Hellberg signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, clearing waivers and performing well as their third-string goaltender. He posted a .905 SV% in 19 games with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and a .922 SV% in three NHL games. Later, the Florida Panthers acquired him at the trade deadline, but he only saw action with their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, where he had a 2.34 GAA, .898 SV%, and a 5-2-0 record in eight games.
Hellberg now joins his seventh NHL team, the Dallas Stars, where he will likely start the season with their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, if he clears waivers. He will be third on the organizational depth chart behind starter Jake Oettinger and recently signed Casey DeSmith.
While the financial details of Hellberg’s two-way deal have not been disclosed, it is expected to include a league-minimum NHL salary of $775,000.
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